The Sharks are upset that there is likely to be a three-month rugby hiatus at Absa Stadium next season, and they are still strongly opposed to the principle of regionalism.

And with Western Province not too happy that they will have to play Super 12 matches in Wellington and George respectively - on the insistence of their regional partners - the Sharks believe they will have an ally in their fight against regionalism.

Natal chief executive Brian van Zyl told the Sunday Tribune "his union was now more convinced than ever that the system for composing South Africa's four teams in the competition was a total failure".

"We've said it before, of course, and we're saying it again. Nothing can be done for the 2001 season, but we will continue to hammer away with our belief that a system of the top four provinces representing the country would be more beneficial all round," he told the Durban newspaper.

"What's more, we believe that Western Province, who were previously opposed to the idea, would now support it. We will definitely appeal to Sarfu again next year to give proper consideration to a return to a top-four system."

Rudolph Straeuli's Sharks' first Super 12 clash is against the Bulls on February 23 in Durban. Five weeks later, after their final home fixture against the Waratahs on March 24, they leave for Australasia.

With Van Zyl clearly not confident of the Sharks reaching the playoffs or securing a home semifinal, their next game in Durban won't be until June 23.

The Sharks' itinerary also calls for them to fly between Australia and New Zealand twice. They first play the Blues and Chiefs, then fly to Brisbane to face the Reds and then return to New Zealand to play the Crusaders in Christchurch. No small challenge.

Nor are the Sharks overjoyed at the prospect of playing the Stormers in Wellington on their return in their final league fixture.

"We'll be appealing to Sarfu over this fixture," Van Zyl told the Sunday Tribune. "It's not on. The stadium isn't conducive to Super 12 rugby.

"The change-rooms are inadequate and the ground itself is not big enough to accommodate the crowd a Super 12 game deserves. This is the problem with the regional system - and why we maintain it has failed."